The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened a special forum entitled “Forum on Korea’s Regional Strategies: Expanding Global Partnerships” at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, on 9 December 2025. The event brought together approximately 150 participants, comprising members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from leading think tanks, academic institutions, research organisations, and other stakeholders involved in foreign policy and international cooperation. The Embassy of Malaysia was represented by its Deputy Chief of Mission.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Joeng Yeon Doo, Vice Minister for Strategy and Intelligence of MOFA, underscored the onset of a new era characterised by heightened geopolitical uncertainty and strategic realignments. He emphasised that the evolving global landscape necessitates a broader, more adaptive engagement framework for the ROK as it seeks to strengthen and diversify its partnerships worldwide. In this regard, the Vice-Minister highlighted the importance of adopting a proactive, flexible, and multifaceted approach that would enable the ROK to remain resilient, responsive, and strategically relevant in navigating emerging regional and global challenges.
The forum was structured around five thematic segments, each addressing a key pillar of the ROK’s regional outreach and foreign policy orientation. The segments covered the New Southern Policy, the New Northern Policy, the Emerging Global South, cooperation with the Middle East, and cooperation with Europe and like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific.
The discussions underscored the ROK’s commitment to strengthening its strategic posture through diversified partnerships and enhanced regional cooperation. The forum also provided an important platform for exchanging insights on the implications of geopolitical shifts and for exploring avenues to advance sustainable, mutually beneficial collaboration with partners across multiple regions.
